BARBARA M. BERK

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Barbara Berk’s “Paisley” Ensemble won First Place in the 2001 Saul Bell Design Award Competition for jewelry design. Her award-winning piece is a combination pendant/brooch of 22kt and 18kt yellow gold woven together by hand. The pendant is set with one 6.5mm Moissanite; the addition of a stickpin with an 8.0mm Moissanite converts the pendant into a brooch.

The design is similar to and a departure from Berk’s typical work. She used the same metal-weaving stitch and technique as she does in her line; the fluidity and shaping of the design is her signature, and the concept of convertibility is one she always considers when she creates. The different element in this Paisley pendant/brooch award competition piece is the new construction technique developed for incorporating the stone – a fabrication technique that opens new avenues of design for her collection.

From more than 150 submissions, narrowed to 19 finalists, Rio Grande honored seven winners including Barbara Berk and one Grand Prize winner for the first annual Saul Bell Design Award competition. This was the inaugural year for the annual competition that honors Rio Grande’s founder, Saul Bell. Co-sponsored by Charles & Colvard™ created moissanite, this year’s competition challenged jewelry designers to create original pieces featuring created moissanite.

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View:  “Paisley” Centerpiece/Pendant/Brooch